performance and modding 1600 Vitara/Escudo vrs V6 2litre

[Eddieb]

Hi folks

I'm looking for a Vitara/Escudo for some backroad exploring, safari's and maybe playing at woodhill and the like. I'd also like to do some back road touring/camping out of it. I was thinking a 2" lift so I can run some slightly larger tyres, maybe 30's and the extra clearance that gives and over time possibly a snorkel, tow points of course and the odd other upgrade.

I was looking at the 95-98 V6 2.0 but I've read you can't really do a a body lift on them and that other bits are harder to come by.
For the pre '95 1600's it sounds like anything is possible and easy to get but would a 1600 with 3 people on board tow a trailer with camping equipment in it?, what about 3 motorbikes?

I'm not intending to race it or club truck it, I'm a fairly relaxed driver and the car will also have to do the school run and the like during the week.

vrs


Thanks
Eddie

[BlakeNZ]

a 1600 with 3 people, towing a trailer with camping gear, or 3 bikes is going to be slow mate. Any hills and you are toast. IMHO.

[Pico42]

I once towed an HR Holden station wagon on a salvage trailer from Dunedin to Roxburgh with our SWB G16B. Nearly killed it.

I think you would notice 3 guys, camping gear and trailer. So best bet is to turbo or supercharge it. Take pictures and make a build thread...

[Eddieb]

So best bet is to turbo or supercharge it. Take pictures and make a build thread...

Haha, any mods I do are going to be on the minor end of the scale.

So it looks like ideally I really need a v6 then.

I've read lots of threads about lifting and have gotten totally confused.

Can you lift a V6 2 inches with springs alone to fit larger tyres? i.e. in a way that won't neccesarily require a cert? or are other parts required.

or If I did a body lift, what the cert likely to cost.

I've done plenty of modifying motorbikes but the cars are new to me and the rules are very different.

[churchill]

If you get a 2.0v6 budget a timing chain change, a rear crank seal and removal of the rocker cover to drill oil drain hole in the separator to stop it smoking.
Try to find a 2.5v6 version, they are rare but the extra torque is good and they don't suffer from the timing chain issues. You also get more torque lower in the rev range.
I've towed a ~750kg trailer and that was about the limit for this vehicle, get something bigger and diesel if you really want to a lot.
I've done a 50mm srping lift with 245/75/16 (30.5") on original rims and no body lift. It worked a treat but you do have to do the following to get good preformance:
-5.125:1 ratio diff swap (4.875 standard)
-Longer rear shocks (commodore)
-50mm front strut spacers (more down travel)
-Front sway bar removal.
-Space the front down bumpstops 3mm (stop wheel rub on the top of the guard)
-Space the rear bumpstops down 5mm
-50mm Rear hiem joint spacer.
-Minor guard trimming on the rear arches.

Live with the positive camber on the front as the camber bolts work loose after a reasonable jolt.
Original rims are nice and light and you don't get rubbing on the rear of the front arch due to larger offset of the aftermarket rims.
Watch your front diff and cv's as they are weak.

There are a few other tweaks you can do if you have a bit more money but this will give you a good base.

[churchill]

A couple of other things I forgot to mention.

-V6 has larger brakes and a better designed rear hub/axle assembly. Still has weak splines where it enters the diff.
-You'll need to put a support bush in the diff to support the RHS inner cv and stop the seal from leaking and the cv breaking as easy.
-if you change to the 5.125 ratio front diff I would recommend removing the vacuum free wheel diff assembly and fitting free wheel hubs. Just buy a whole 26 spline 5.125 diff asembly and fit it. If you can't find one pm me and I'll I should be able to tell you how to do it.

[Eddieb]

If you get a 2.0v6 budget a timing chain change, a rear crank seal and removal of the rocker cover to drill oil drain hole in the separator to stop it smoking.
Try to find a 2.5v6 version, they are rare but the extra torque is good and they don't suffer from the timing chain issues. You also get more torque lower in the rev range.
I've towed a ~750kg trailer and that was about the limit for this vehicle, get something bigger and diesel if you really want to a lot.

Watch your front diff and cv's as they are weak.
.

Whats the timing chain etc work likely to cost?
750KG should cover what I'm likely to tow, the 3 bikes weigh about 410kg all up, plus the trailer weight.

[churchill]

$250 or so for the kit, $150 for the water pump (recommended seeing as the front cover is off) and 25% more labour than a cam belt. Maybe a $750 -$1000 all up unless anyone else has done one before and can help with the cost? Oh, do the front crank seal as well seeing as the front pulley has to come off.
About $400 to do the rocker cover.
A mate had his rear crank seal done for $400 but that I think is a very good price, expect closer to $600 for that job.

If you can do this work yourself its way cheaper. $25 for the rear crank, and $35 for the rocker cover gasket. Labour is the killer with these jobs.

[churchill]

By the way Mazda re-badge the Vitara v6 and call it a Proceed Levant, this is what I have. They are identical as far as I can tell, Mazda even direct you to Suzuki for the spare parts. You might be able to get one cheaper this way.

[Eddieb]

Well I picked this up over the weekend, I didn't expect to find somehting in this shape and setup in my price range but I think I got lucky.

1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 door

2 litre J20 engine
150,000 km’s
30×9.5 15 muds
2 inch suspension lift
Extractors
Sony cd player
Factory wheels with road tyres
New shock mounts
New rear gearbox seal
New serpentine belt and tensioner
Subaru wrx seats
Manual locking hubs at the front
Lock rite autolocker diff in the rear





More info here: http://www.4wdtracks.co.nz/forums/topic ... ki-vitara/

[BlakeNZ]

Nice! great colour too, haven't seen many like that.

[3VILC]

Hey that is pretty cool. Cant say I've ever actually seen a newer grand-vit in the more traditional extra short size..thought they were all bigger wagons after the late 90s apart from the Jimny.
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